1. Garden Party
2. Sliding Down
3. Wrapping Up
A Little Friend is 3 today. His party was at a Nearby Garden. I’ll take all the Christmas presents, I thought, taking a pile of five downstairs to wrap. In front of Son 1 aged 4y 3m, while Son 2 aged 15m was napping. Son 1 went nuts. He wanted the little plastic paint-me figures, he couldn’t keep his fingers out of the Meccano boxes, he lifted the flaps in the books. Of course I gave up, and we just took Birthday Boy’s. Son 1 wore his Santa outfit. We went straight to see Santa in his grotto; 8 little boys aged 4 and under, 1 two-year old girl. Santa was great, the grotto was great. Is it me or are they getting better? Santa asked all the little boys what they wanted for Christmas. Son 1 couldn’t speak when it was his turn. “A Knight’s Tower,” I said, “with some Monsters.” “And what about this little one? ” said Santa. “An iPod,” I said. “Or a mobile phone.” Santa stared and waited for a sensible answer, while small boys giggled and said “No-o,” Teletubbies fashion. I made up a Farm and some bath toys. Outside, Son 2 stared, rapt, at the mighty camera wielded by Birthday Boy’s parents, reaching out his little starfish hands for the buttons. Sorry darling, Santa didn’t believe me when I told him what you’d like for Christmas.
The children had their faces painted. They were all blue Power Rangers, which made Son 1 a Santa with a blue face. Lunch was served in the playground. It was a dry, clear day so the children ate chocolate sandwiches and chased and slid and climbed and squabbled. Son 2 reached for me every time Wonder Nanny picked him up. That matters more than it should. She lay him down on his back and dropped him down the slide… I caught him at the bottom. He laughed and laughed and then started panicking in case we weren’t going to do it again. Son 1 complained that Older Brother had hit him. “You don’t need to tell me,” I said. “Santa is very close and he’ll be watching Older Brother and won’t bring him any presents.” They made up. Cake was served. Two more boys we know, aged 4 and 2 turned up, with their dad. The children played, the grown ups chatted.
Some went home, we went back towards the grotto so Son 1 could make a Christmas Table decoration. Red candle, a bit of clay, a base and all the foliage you can get in for a pound. Son 1 did a very good job. We put the boys in the car, they were both asleep by the time we got back to The Town, so I did a quick shopping run around Asda. Trolley logjam. Granny and Granddad came round to see the boys, who were fizzing with tiredness. After bedtime, The Man and I wrapped present after present after present. Son 2 has about 6 things, Son 1 about 15. Must get something for Granny and Granddad tomorrow. And for The Man, I suppose.
Tags: birthday, chocolate sandwiches, face painting, garden, grotto, iPod, Knight's Tower, monsters, party, playground, power rangers, presents, Santa, Santa outfit, Table Decoration, Wonder Nanny
